Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta opened up about the state of the franchise after getting off to a 9-11 record, the second-worst of an ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Rockets managed a franchise best 65-win season in 2017-18, coming a game shy of reaching the NBA Finals, but suffered untimely injuries down the stretch that hindered their progress.
According to Fertitta, the same remains true today.
“Let me be real honest about it. None of us are happy, but you got to remember, when Chris [Paul] and James [Harden] both played we’re 8-4,” said Fertitta, according to Mark Berman of Fox26 News. “When they haven’t played (together) we’re 1-7… We’ve got to be healthy to win games… I’m not holding up very well. I’m here to win.”
Fertitta bought the team knowing the upward trend in the franchise and the potential it had to threaten for the NBA title, already enjoying a pleasant NBA market.
Houston has eight of its 11 losses against Western Conference teams and has now lost four games in a row, with the road not getting any easier as they’re slated to face the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
Chris Paul was signed to a four-year, $160 million max contract despite his well-storied trend of untimely injuries and his age, which will keep him under contract until he’s 37.
Harden has been nicked plenty through the early get-go, likely a result of his insistence to play in every game and the bulk of action he’s seen since becoming a Rocket.
The post Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta says team not happy with losing early, must get healthy appeared first on ClutchPoints.
